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"The guys who drafted him did a great job," Smith said, via PewterReport.com. "I know right now coming in he's going to be one of our leaders.

"Through free agency, (he said) 'What can I do?' Gerald was popping up on the phone quite a bit, texting me, excited about who we're getting, what we're doing with his new teammates. So yes, that is definitely a priority. He's a guy that we definitely want around for a while, to say the least."

With Bengals star Geno Atkins sidelined by an ACL injury, McCoy took over as the NFL's most dominant three-technique tackle last season. He likely will be seeking a contract that exceeds the five-year, $55 million deal signed by Atkins last September.